Hatfield Township man awaits sentencing after admitting to molesting 10 year old girl

COURTHOUSE — A 75-year-old Hatfield Township man has admitted to sexually assaulting a 10-year-old girl while she was in his company at various times in the township.

Luis Ortiz Ramos, who lived along Woodview Drive until he was jailed on the charges, pleaded guilty in Montgomery County Court to felony charges of involuntary deviate sexual intercourse and attempted involuntary deviate sexual intercourse in connection with incidents that occurred between July and December 2011.

Judge Gary S. Silow deferred sentencing so that court officials can complete a background investigative report about Ramos, who potentially faces a maximum sentence of 20-to-40 years in prison on the charges. The judge ordered that Ramos be held at the county jail without bail pending sentencing.

Ramos also must undergo an evaluation by the Pennsylvania Sexual Offender Assessment Board, which will determine if he meets criteria under the state’s Megan’s Law to be declared a sexually violent predator. Those deemed to be predators face more stringent restrictions under Megan’s Law, including a lifetime requirement to report their addresses to state police and community notification about their housing arrangements.

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An investigation of Ramos began in January 2012 when a woman reported to police that she came across a sexually suggestive video, allegedly recorded by Ortiz with a handheld video camera, which included the victim. Ortiz, whose voice two women subsequently identified as being heard on the video, was “talking sexy and moaning” as the camera focused on the girl’s body parts, according to the criminal complaint.

When authorities interviewed the girl, she told police Ortiz touched her inappropriately and had other sexual contact with her while she was in his company on several occasions in the township, according to the criminal complaint filed by Hatfield Township Police Officer Thomas Starner.

Other charges of aggravated indecent assault, rape of child, indecent assault and corruption of a minor are slated to be dismissed against Ramos at time of sentencing in exchange for his guilty plea to the involuntary deviate sexual intercourse charges.